Southwest Florida Water Management District Report: April 2009

Water Shortage Orders
On March 31, 2009, the Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board voted to tighten water restrictions for certain utilities in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. This Modified Phase IV Critical Water Shortage continues to allow lawn watering one day per week but restricts the hours allotted for lawn watering.

Modified Phase IV restrictions apply to customers of Tampa Bay Water member government utilities, other utilities that receive water from the member governments, and Aloha Utilities in Pasco County. Residents using water from the City of Tampa’s Water Department are to follow the City of Tampa’s Emergency Ordinances. Residents in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties using other sources of water, either private well water or water from utilities not affected by the Phase IV measures, remain under the current Modified Phase III restrictions.

The restrictions were effective as of April 3, 2009 and are scheduled to expire on June 30, 2009.

Manatee, Charlotte, Sarasota and DeSoto counties continue to be under a Modified Phase III Extreme Water Shortage.

For a complete listing of water shortage restrictions, please visit:
http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/conservation/restrictions/

Free Workshop for Growers
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is inviting greenhouse, nursery, foliage, strawberry and vegetable growers to attend a free tour and workshop promoting the use of recycled and reclaimed water in the horticulture industry.

The workshop will be held April 29 from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, 14625 County Road 672, Wimauma.

An optional tour of the Riverview Flower Farm, from 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., at 5363 Bonita Drive, Wimauma, will highlight new research and practical aspects of water conservation.

To register for the free tour and workshop, please call Shawn Steed at the Hillsborough County Extension Office at (813) 744-5519. Lunch is included in the workshop and participants will receive pesticide continuing education credit for attending. The registration deadline is April 22. There is a $15 fee for registering after the deadline.

The workshop is being funded in part by a Southwest Florida Water Management District Community Education Grant.

Governor Reappoints Closshey to Governing Board
Jennifer Closshey was appointed to the Governing Board in April 2005 and elected board treasurer in May 2006. In May 2007, she was re-elected as board treasurer and in May 2008, she was elected board secretary. She was reappointed to a new term in April 2009. Her term expires March 1, 2013.

Closshey is president, CEO, and owner of Ideas & Innovations, Inc., a strategic business consulting firm. She previously owned Crystals International, Inc. in Plant City, a business that depended on water to create a vacuum to dry fruit products.

Florida Farm Bureau congratulates Jennifer on her reappointment and looks forward to our continued work with her.

Current Rainfall Data
2009 Rainfall (in inches)

North: Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion and Sumter
Central: Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk
South: Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Manatee and Sarasota